While the vast majority of the textfiles on this site came from Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes), a much smaller percentage concern themselves with the actual nuts-and-bolts issues, heartaches, triumphs, and wonder of the BBSes themselves. This section covers those files specifically.
Imagine a simple home computer, maybe an Apple II or Commodore 64, sitting in a basement of a suburban house, or maybe in the bedroom of a young computer kid, waiting eagerly for the next calling to come down the second phone line (or even the only phone line, late at night) so that the single user could read and post messages, upload and download files, or ask the SysOp (system operator) if they wanted to chat. This was the single node of power which gave hundreds of kids the platform to express themselves or affect the world around them, one caller at a time.
These files rank among my favorites; reading the rants about the rules of the BBSes, the distant but emotionally powerful networks that rose between groups of people who never met, and the glimpses you are given into how it was to have your machine running a message base, hoping that you were going to get the most "posts" of any of the boards running in your neighborhood. Fantastic.
Lists of Telephone Numbers of BBSes Long Past
CBBS: The Last Days of the First BBS
Dr. Delam's Collection of Hacker Captures, Messages, and Files
Files on or how to Crash and Destroy BBSes
Files, News and Information from the FidoNet Experience
Lists of Files Available on BBSes Long Past
Issues of the ICEnet Newsletter
The File Collection from the Incredible KeelyNet BBS
The MindVox Collection: Menus, Files and Forums of MindVox BBS, First Edition
PASCO BBS Magazine (1993-1997)
The Jason Scott / TEXTFILES.COM BBS Printout Collection
Files from the 401 BBS "The Ministry of Knowledge"
Messages, Logos and Captures from the Unauthorised BBS (1990-1995)
Issues of the WWIVnews Newsletter
An Introduction to the Sathack BBS
The Twelve Commandments of BBS Users
144BBS List, Compiled by the Downtown BBS (List of BBSes running 14.4k Modems)
Introduction to the 14.4k Modem BBS List
The MUFON Member's Guide to BBSing (How to Act on a UFO Format BBS)
Message from Roy Lipscomb offering to sell MP/M System on the 20/20 BBS (May 23, 1991)
Application to Join a Set of Adult Conferences on a BBS
Taming the Wild Kitty: Running a Wildcat! 4 BBS
The Complete Story of How to Become Elite in 514 by Mechanix
The IBM Bust of 612 by Professor Falken, Ex-Sysop of The Alliance (January 29, 1988)
America's Validated Toll-Free BBS List by Kevin Brook (December 31, 1994)
A Comparison of High Speed Modems Compatibility/Features/Differences/Prices (March 3, 1991)
Introduction to the 9X Group (Guidelines)
Soft Docs: A-Dial Version 2.0, by Gerard Lane
All the secrets of Another Bloody BBS
Jim Anderson Gives up on The Most Significant Byte BBS (January 13, 1985)
The Jim Anderson BBS Rant, with Additional Comments
The Best Ways to Abuse a BBS by The Joker
Application for Access to the Altered States BBS
Rusty and Edie's BBS: From the Beginning to the Beginning
The Blue Adept presents: ASCII Express II: The Pro (1993)
BBS Crashing Techniques by Mr. Memorix (January 27, 1987)
Association of Online Professionals Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Association of Online Professionals Information and Membership Application
Another Chat with the Argus BBS Hackers (Boston BBS) by Criminal Minded
Argus Hackers: Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel by Kingpin (April 2, 1992)
Getting Busted: An Experience and a Warning
Andy Rubin Says Goodbye to The Spies in the Wire
A Rundown of the Hayes AT Command Set
Some Words from the Scan Man of P-80 BBS about His Hacker Chronicles CD-ROM
Babbs Boy Presents: Anti-Fed BBS Security
BBS Basics from Pasco BBS Magazine
Baud is Not Equal to BPS, by Grant DeLorean (February 26, 1990)
The BBS Basics, from Pasco Magazine (1993)
BBS Suit: Linda Thompson Vs. Bob Predaina of the Professional's Choice BBS
Whatever Happened to COMMUNICATION In BBSes?
Some Hints on General BBS Etiquitte
The BBS Burnings, by Lance Rose of NetLaw
The BBS Callers Digest Online Version Information File and Pricing (March 10, 1992)
The Official BBS FAQ, Version 1.0, 1994 by Claire Walters
The Official BBS FAQ: Chapter 1: Introduction
The Official BBS FAQ: Part 2: Shareware
The Official BBS FAQ: Part 3: Remote Access
The Official BBS FAQ: Part 4: Vision X
Computer Terror and Distruction: Issue #1 - BBS Infiltration by the Chamelion
Version 1.1 - BBS LEGAL GUIDE by Clary and Kraft, 1993
Collection of BBS Laws Disclaimer To Put On Your BBS
A List of BBSes and Their Mailing Addresses
List of "Official ModemNews Stands" for Issue #15
Using the Files in the BBS Log Program
The Loser Users, by The Trash Compactor
On the Oregon BBS Rates Case (1992)
Jeff Hunter's BBS Review (In ANSI) September 17, 1992
Jeff Hunter's BBS Review by Jeff Hunter (September 17, 1992)
Police Set up BBS Stings, by Jim Forbes, Infoworld
Effective Shareware Distribution via the BBS Channel Version 1.2 (August 10, 1992)
So You Want to Be a SysOp, by Wally Byczek, Wallyworld BBS 1989
Exploding Bill the Cat's Brain
The Biography of the Sysops of The Invention Factory BBS
Collection of Birthdays for different BBSes and BBS Users, St. Louis Area
The End of the Blitzkreig BBS, Transcribed by Phantasm [09/01/93]
My Secret Life on the Boards by J.D. Hildebrand
Board Simulations: A Great Collection of Title Screens of 1980's Hacker BBSes (1987)
The Bust of the Private Sector BBS (August 1985)
An Application to Join the BOM Squad
BRADFORD LUDES IS A MAJOR LAMER
Some of the HoHoCon 1991 Brainstorming Session
Engineering Oriented Bulletin Board Systems Directory (April 8, 1991)
The Pirates of Puget Sound talk about the Hard Drive Crash
Callback Verification is for Chump Sysops! By Colostomy Bagboy
Information about the Capitol Connection BBS
Fraudulent Behaviour #2: Career Opportunities: A Hacker's Guide to a $50,000 Job (June 14, 1996)
Ward Christensen Explains to Janet Balas how CBBS Came to Be (March 1, 1993)
How to hack CBVs (Call-back Verification Systems) by Morpheus
Partial log of session on RCPM of "Chicago's First Osborne Group." from Roy Lipscomb
Partial log of session on RCPM of "Chicago's First Osborne Group." from Roy Lipscomb
The Changing BBS, by Lois B. Laulicht, CCC of WV (1992)
CAPTURE: The Chat! Chat! Chat! BBS (May 19, 1993)
CAPTURE: The Chat! Chat! Chat! BBS (May 9, 1993)
CAPTURE: The Chat! Chat! Chat! BBS (May 16, 1993)
CAPTURE: The Chat! Chat! Chat! BBS (December 1, 1993)
IronHorse goes deep into a chat-war being held on three BBSes in the New Jersey Area (Excellent)
Closing the Net by Greg Costikyan (January 1991)
The Facelss Computer, by Tony Curro (1992)
The BBS Commandments from "Link-Up" Magazines
An Introduction to the Computer Underground, by The Butler, 2/26/1991
Computer Etiquitte by Mel North
Computer Crime: Current Practices, Problems and Proposed Solutions, by Brian J. Peretti
Coolhand Luke explains what is happening with TNSHB TGR
Log of Session on the Committee of the Physically Handicapped BBS, by Roy Lipscomb
Corrupt Security BBS Introduces Itself
Thoughts on Co-Sysops for WWIV Boards and Security Levels in General
What to Do When You Break Into a BBS by Doctor Crush
The Curse BBS, by The Incognito: A History (1988)
CYBERThrash by Julian Dibbell (March 1990)
The Danger of Computer Bulletin Boards by Chief Alfred Olsen (October 29, 1993)
The Danger of Computer Bulletin Boards by Chief Alfred O. Olsen (Second Part)
The Danger of Computer Bullet Boards, by Alfred O. Olsen (Part III)
Distorted Digital Erection #31 (June 2, 1994)
The History of the BBS User, a Musical Drama in 5 Parts
Your Defense as a BBS Operator, by Brian Oblivion (1992)
Defamation Liability of Computerized BBS Operators and Problems of Proof by John R. Kahn
Some Designs Ideas for a BBS Program
The Diary of a Hacker Parts I and II by the Cuisinart Blade (Excellent)
The Dirty Dozen: An Uploaded Program Alert List Issue #7 (January 4, 1987)
Extremely Long File About Why they're Not a Pirate BBS
NFO FILE: Fucking Hostile BBS System
Confessions of a Download Junkie (How to Tell You're Addicted to Downloading)
A User Describes his Dream BBS Software, Centrum
The Do's and Dont's of ASCII Express by Quasimoto
A Policy Regarding BBS Downtime
The Disktop Publishing BBS - The Epicenter of Electronic Publishing by Ron Albright, Sysop
Midnite Computer Wiring Society Profile by DTI of Kryptic Night (1990)
Electropolis: Communication and Community on Internet Relay Chat by Elizabeth M. Reid (1991)
Someone who is VERY Angry about the Eliteness of a BBS
The End of the Metal AE, by Lustfer Death
The End of the Metal AE (February 14, 1990)
Engineering Oriented Bulletin Board Systems Directory (April 8, 1991)
Log of a Session on the Executive Region Premium BBS by Roy Lipscomb (August 8, 1992)
About the Exec-PC Network (Since 1982) by the Exec-PC BBS (1991)
Excerpts from The FBI and Your BBS, from The Net News Admin of Ripco.Com (September 5, 1994)
The FBI Comes Rapping, Rapping At Your BBS by Brock N. Meeks
Offworld BBS Buster: Computer Operator Denies Porn Menu by Christine Bertelson (January 19, 1993)
Colonel Guilty of Sending Porn over Computer from the Associated Press
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about FrontDoor, TosScan, and Related Utilities
The Fear and Loathing BBS Was Busted Today, August 3, 1993
The Tragedy of On-Line Addition, by Steve King
How do I Get a Copy of the Hack Report? (FidoNet)
Telecomputing: BBS of the Month by Curt Phillips (Line Noise Filter)
Your System Has Noise! By Bill Noel
The Flamer's Bible by Joe Talmadge
A Guide to BBS Flames by Stacy A. Thomas (Junary 4, 1993)
Otto's Flame Tips: How to Conduct a Flame War, or How to Piss off FIDOnet Sysops in Network 105
The Fall of the Modem World, by Chris (Unformatted)
The New Orleans Personal Computer Club Membership Information File
Articles Concerning the California "Fremont Bust" (March, 1986)
Fuck Dave Lindsey (Warchild) by CyberChrist (November 11, 1993)
Galactica Net: Information and Rules
GalacticNet: Rules and Regulation
Information on Gateway '89 (BBS Convention in NY)
Factual Errors in "GTTUTOR and MEGALink" Files by Chuck Forsberg (June 23, 1987)
A Tutorial about Modem Communications by Raymond Wood and Jim Davis
Conversation with Hames Davis and Raymond Wood Regarding Modems and GT PowerComm
Conversation with Hames Davis and Raymond Wood Regarding Modems and GT PowerComm (Part III)
The Ultraviolet Cafe's Guide to Better Modeming Cuisine, by Tony Frey
Explanation of the Hayes Sysop Program
The Loser Hacker Wannabe on ARGUS by Genetic Mutation
Additional Comments from Lose Hackerboy, by Genetic Mutation
Northern Illinois University: The Social Organization of the Computer Underground
The Diary of a Hacker Part 3, by the Blade Cuisinart
How to Choose an Alias, by The Sheister/UMass Bandit
What You Need to Know About Modems by patrick Chen (December 25, 1991)
FILE LIST: The Hotshot BBS In Sweden
How to Become an Unsuccessful, Burned-Out SysOp
HSAnet Nodelist for Friday, May 19, 1995 -- Day number 139 (1995)
Top Ten Ways To Tell You're Having a Really Rough Day In BBS Land by Joe De Rouen (1993)
From the Mage's Workshop: The BBS Weaselholic (1994) by Joe DeRouen
BBS CAPTURE: Collection of Jokes from the Colorama BBS
A Reply to the Busted Information File by Bender (British Phreaking) (Includes Tags)
I Was a Teenage Modem Geek by The Sheister/Umass Bandit
One Man's Thoughts on the DERF BBS Scene
Bust Avoidance For Dipshits typed by Derision (1990)
The IBM Bust of 612 by Professor Falken (January 29, 1988)
Information on Info-Look (September 23, 1989)
Insane Inc. Price List from Static Rave Zulu
DOCUMENTAITON: Chat with Lisa, by Mike Fox (1995)
A Warning Before Joining Interlec and Cliff Whatkinds
Little cool intro blurb before launching into BBS Discussions
An Introduction to the Paul Revere Network
A Response to Doug Scott's file/message called INTLWRN.ZIP (BBS Flame War from 1991)
BBSing and the Law by Jay Gaines
A Letter of Concern about the Seizing of a BBS Computer (January 19, 1994)
United States District Court vs. Steve Jackson Games
A Recap of the Events Surrounding the Amateur Action BBS
Dr. Smut's Prescription to Sysops for Terrorizing Loser Users and Leeches
How To Crash a Telegard BBS by The Crypt Keeper
Kill those K-RaDiCaL K00l KiD wArEz b0aRdS! (July 12, 1992)
The History of K-K00l D00ds by The Edge
Various Theories of what K-Rad Means on Usenet, Followed by some Original Users Mailing In (1994)
Leeches, by The Grim Reaper of ESP (February 8, 1985)
Leeches by The Grim Reaper of ESP (February 8, 1985)
What Leeches Hate about A.E. Sysops by Crackmaster
Checking Out Files from the Realm of Darkness BBS
Public Access to Library Catalogs Via Modem
BBS Capture: Colorama Dirty Limericks
A Book of Lists (About BBS Programs) by Shooting Shark (September 3, 1985)
A List of Chicago Area BBSes (1991)
The Secret Service, UUCP,and The Legion of Doom
The LOD Files - A CuD Critique, by the CuD Moderators (May 29, 1993)
WELCOME SCREEN: The Clinic, with Sysop Doctor Quack
The Traits of a Loser User (December 11, 1985)
A List of Lubbock, TX Federal Agents by Bartman (December 15, 1992)
Dr. Arcane's Guide to Maggot Weeding Volume 1.0 by Dr. Arcane
Dr. Arcane's Guide to Maggot Weeding Volume 1.0 by Dr. Arcane
Sysop Liability for Enroute Mail, by Mike Riddle
Maformed Genitals: Written by the Ramsacker of Pieces of Eight
Blade Runner Describes the Goings-On of "Max", in the 908 BBS Clique of 1990
This story appears to be some threatening letter to a Sysop, about Communism.
Malformed Genitals by The Ramsacker of Pieces of Eight
Modem Organizations/Groups/Gangs in Stark County by M.I.A. (May 12, 1991)
Information on the Minos BBS System
A Major Change in Direction for ModemNews (December 1, 1993)
The Introduction and Thinking Behind FILE_ID.DIZ by Richard Holler Version 1.7 (March 11, 1993)
A Collection of the "Modem Pail Kids"
Split Personalities on Electronic Bulletin Boards by Rangott Spliekin
The Modem Life: Is it Really Worth it? By The Nomad
Southern California Sysops Pull the Plug on Tcimpidis, by David Brown (October 19, 1984)
Riding the BoardzZz: A Guided Tour of the Underground from Mondo 2000
Choosing a Monster BBS by Gage Steele (1994)
Special Sysop Deals on MultiModems
My Day with the Secret Service Man, by The Incognito
A Warning about FBI Agents penetrating BBSes
The National Enlightener Issue #1
The National Enlightener Issue #2
The National Enlightener Comments and Credits
The Elite Commandments from the National Enlightener
The National Enlightener Issue #2: Interviews and Quotes
The National Enlightener Issue #3: Summing Things Up
The National Enlightener (Mid-80's Scandal Sheet for Phreaks)
The National Enlightener (Scandal Sheet for the Pirate/Phreak World)
Look out for John! He's a Sysop AND a Killer!
NetMail Documentation (Fidonet Netmail)
The New Generation Group Guide by Beezle Bart of The Thought Police
The New Generation Group Guide by Beezlebart of The Thought Police
Newsletter for RAIN (Random Access Information Network) BBS through 1994 (1994)
Newsletter for RAIN (Random Access Information Network) BBS through 1995 (1995)
Newsletter for RAIN (Random Access Information Network) BBS through 1996 (1996)
The New Haven BBS Awards, 1994 Edition (Second Annual)
Communication Etiquette in Modern Media (March 16, 1994)
The Sysop's Guide to Not Getting Busted, by The Story Teller
Dealing with Line Noise from Jim 953 (August 31, 1988)
Michael Elansky: Anarchist? by Gage Steele (1993)
Article about the arrest of the Connecticut Sysop for having Anarchy for Fun and Profit
The Organization of "The Resistance" (December 30, 1992)
NORML: Cannabis: The Rational View" (January 4, 1993)
New York Sysops Association Ethics List
Important News Release from ModemNews: (September 10, 1991)
The Online Atlanta Society (OAS) -- What Is It?
The Twit Filter: The Professional Amateur by Dave Bealer
Invitation to the Telecomputing Magazine COMDEX Party: "The Biggest Names in BBSing"
The Great Dreams of the Patriot BBS
Police Report on John Richard, the Scofflaw Sysop
Warning how Phone Companies are charging all BBS's as a Business
Call to Arms to stop the Overcharing Phone Companies and Save BBSs.
Access Numbers for PC Pursuit, by The Phantom
Phile 9: Review of Apple BBS Boards
Application to get onto the Adult Section of the Puss N Boots BBS
List of BBSes that Distribute ZIP Magazine
Tony Davis and the seizure of the Oklahoma Information Exchange BBS
The Roster of Devonline Products (BBS Doors)
Archive of Poetry from the House of the Rising Sun BBS (October 1, 1994)
Log File of Going through the ProtoGen BBS (1993)
Questions and Answers To The BBSes and Nets Around the World (1993)
Information on the QWK Packet File Format
Rusty and Edie's BBS Seized by the FBI (Bulletin Boards and Badges)
A Day in the Life of a R0dent from the Music City BBS
Generally Making a RemoteAccess BBS Sad, by Valentino
SysOp is Told by Radio Shack to Take Down Her BBS
FBI Raids California BBS Thanks to the Efforts of the SPA (Press Release)
How to Destroy an RBBS-PC System by Phreak's Cabaret
RBBS-PC of Chicago Offers the Official RBBS-PC In a Box CD-ROM
Real Sysops and Unreal Board Crashers: Real BBS Users by The Master Watchman of The Encounter
Read BBSes Don't Eat Upload Credits by Suicidal Maniac
The Real Pirates Guide Volume 5 by Rabid Rasta and Control Reset of High Society
Real R0dent's Guide by Shooting Shark
Real BBSes Don't Eat Upload Credits by Suicidal Maniac of the Dirty Bird's Nest BBS
An Addition to Real Sysops and Unreal Board Crashers by The Master Watchman of The Encounter
The Official Guide to G-Phile Authors, by Man Tooth (Needs Formatting)
The Seizure Warrant Documents for the Ripco BBS (1990)
Blueprints of the Safehouse BBS
An Essay on the Electronic Highways by Havok Halcyon of SANctuary (September 25, 1992)
The Santa Barbara BBS Scene of the Mid 80's, by Charles Hobbs
Ad for the Strictly Business BBS's Free Offers to Help Your Business Grow, 1992
The Edge Talks About Being Harassed on his BBS
Wildcat BBS System Emergency System Documentation (January 2, 1989)
Some of the Dangers in Running a BBS (Message by Kee Hinckley) (June 1, 1990)
21 Considerations in Selecting BBSes to Use and Enjoy, by Ken Buchholz
The Star Fighter Agenda by The Ramshacker (October 7, 1991)
The Best on the Boards, by Russell Mirabelli (1993)
Secret Service Held Guilty of Violating Computer Privacy by Bob Ortega (March 16, 1993)
Court Ruling Gives Laws on Privacy a Hi-Tech Edge, by Bob Ortega (March 18, 1993)
So, You Wanna Be a Sysop Version 1.3 by The NOID, The Hevmedler, and Mister I/O
The Files Listing for Socialism Online BBS
HI I AM A NEW USER ON THIS BBS!!!!!!!
An Analysis by The Ramsacker (October 7, 1991)
So You Want to Start a BBS? bt Jerry Shifrin (May 23, 1987)
Tips on Starting Your Own BBS by Pazuzu (November 11, 1993)
Listing of Files on the STB BBS
Stark Naked: The Journal of Stark County Telecom Volume 1 Issue #2 (August 1, 1992)
Stark Naked: The Journal of Stark County Telecom Volume 1 Issue #3 (August 8, 1992)
Stark Naked: The Journal of Stark County Telecom Volume 1 Issue #4 (September 1, 1992)
Stark Naked: The Journal of Stark County Telecom Volume 1 Issue #5 (September 20, 1992)
Large, All Capitals Rant about Stupid Kids
Large Amount of Information about Lithium
Articles from 2600 Magazine regarding Operation Sundevil (The BBS Crackdowns of 1990)
Technical Support List: BBS's, Datafax's And Internet Sites (December, 1995)
The Hacker Syndrome: How They Did It (September 5, 1986)
The SysOp's Tale, Poem by Jogn Chambers, 1992
SysOp Fun, by Mutant Offspring
Book Review: SYSLAW: The Sysop's Legal Manual by J. D. Abolins
James Galt Discusses the Sysop Madness (April 27, 1989)
Information Regarding the Posting of Unicorn Software Programs on BBSes
A Sysop's Peeves, by Bob Maxwell (July 21, 1986)
What Files are Legal for Distribution on a BBS?
SysOp Suicide! (A Day in the Life of a System Operator) by James C. Goldbloom (March 1988)
The SysOp Test by Robin Francis and Bruno Gagnon (September 2, 1991)
Weird Chat with The Black Knight on a BBS (1993)
Once Upon a Time in A BBS Far Away (Parody/Complaint of a BBS) (December 12, 1993)
The Fed Busts: The TDT is Temporarily Disbanded
Telecomputing Magazine: Electronic Edition, by Galaxy Telecomm Corporation (October/November, 1990)
Martin Pollard Explains Why He's Killing off Telegard Software (December 8, 1991)
How to upgrade Your 2400 Modem into a 9600 Baud by Death Bringer (June 7, 1991)
Textfiles, to the Tune of "Big Time" by Jason Scott (March 9th, 1987)
The Ramsacker's Textfile Primer (July 27, 1989)
The Telegard Sysop's Protection Hints by the Man Against the Mob
The Real Story, by Michael Levy, aka The Dark Knight
Project Underground Alliance - A Proposal for Change: by Targa Phantom
The UCGG Newletter (May 1991) by Robin #23
Known USSR BBSes (February 22, 1991)
What is the Benefit of MNP? By David Terry, of Salt Air BBS, 05/19/1991
WaReZ d00dz and H/P/A/V: A Failing Mixture, by Mr. Sandman (August 21, 1993)
Warning about Dragons Lair BBS Being Down
ANSI BBS Ad for the Trekkers' Tavern
So You Want to be a Sysop, by Al Gutkin of "The Tax Board"
Jason Scott's Offer to Revive the Works BBS (1995)
Regarding Hacked versions of PKware Products, by Bob Mahoney (December 11, 1992)